dave s

You might be comparing PGA Tour Pro stats/data with someone who might hold a high handicap. If you quoted tour pro stats, I don't disagree one bit. Closer to pin green = closer to hole on green. And tour pros understand the shot and most assuredly practice shots from that distance. My contention is it's still a pretty dicey range and shot for many higher handicap players. It's one I can hit but don't enjoy having one on every hole. It's a case of going to the well one time to many!

I still assert that 50-60 yard shots are difficult to hit with consistently quality results for many players. From a tight fairway lie or off a mat at a range. As far as getting as close as you possibly can to the green, yes indeed. Agree 100%. Those who need help with that awkward half wedge shot should attempt to get better at it as you indicate. Those who simply can't manage those shots might want to avoid leaving themselves in that predicament. That's all I'm saying and it's not terrible advice, mate. Consistently poor results from that range? Develop a plan to stay away from the shot.

Some personal thoughts. I love The Masters. Best broadcast in sports today. One thing I question every year: I understand the tradition of past champions, but does it make sense to have past Masters Champions who can no longer compete taking his spot in the tournament? Guys like Bernhard Langer or Fred Couples can still compete. Larry Mize and Ian Woosnam cannot. It's almost kind of embarrassing to professional golf to have guys playing who won't break 80 on days 1 and 2, miss the cut. I'm kind of torn whether its right to allow the lifelong exemption and have guys who have no chance of competing teeing it up or replace them with more of the OWGR players? Or, do we honor tradition and let Mike Wier play until he's 75 because tradition allows him to do so.

Agree with @Valleygolfer to stay AWAY from the 50-60 yard range whenever possible. There's a good reason tour pros don't lay up to this range: It's a really difficult shot for everybody. I used to play scrambles with guys who hit tee balls to this range on par 4 holes. They'd say, "okay Dave, stick one close!" Sheesh! How many times do you think I can hit this shot before I blade one over the green? Tough shot. If you do keep getting yourself into the 50-60 yard range, maybe learn how to pitch with lower lofted wedge or even a 9- or 8-iron using more of a putting stroke? Tight lies indicate ball-first strike I believe. Good amount of spin and let it roll out like a putt once on the green. The obvious downside of this shot is you may get the bad bounce along the the way to the green. Better yet, stay OUT of this range and back to a yardage where you can swing at least 80% of a lob wedge and fly it all nearer the hole taking out the possibility of the bad bounce. Last Saturday, we're playing in complete mush conditions. The last hole, a long par 4 was completely into the wind. I had to lay up my 2nd shot due to bunkers that started 40 yards in. Since it was a cart path only rule, I took a layup club (8-iron) and some shorter clubs with me. Of course the layup shot was crushed leaving me closer to the green than planned. I had a 50* gap wedge as my shortest club and had your favorite 64 yard shot to the pin. 3/4 easy swing with ball first contact and hit a once-bounce stop to 10'. Missed the par putt of course, but was able to take enough off a club that usually goes 90-100 yards to hit it only 65 yards. It's certainly possible to negotiate that distance if you're good with less than full shots with your wedges, but personally, I try really hard to stay OUT of that range. The one I hit Saturday was likely as much luck as skill.

Since we're just moving into spring and playing season, I would suggest looking in your area for a beginner group lesson package. Some places have like a 6-lesson introduction to golf package that helps explain things that aren't obvious to golf. Beginner classes usually cover cover putting, short game, full swing classes for irons and woods. Some conclude with a 9-hole round to put into play what has been taught. Welcome to TST

I live up north, NE Ohio, where everything is bent grass fairways and greens over soft dirt. Roughs are usually overseeded rye/bluegrass mixes that are very dense. That's because it freaking RAINS all the time making it grow like mad and too wet to mow. That said, I LOVE playing down south with bermuda fairways on top of a sand base. Bermuda, (or some of the newer turfs down south) greens hold shots and don't tear potholes in the greens like our soft bent grass / dirt base greens do up north. Yeah, I definitely prefer the down south courses with the hybrid, drought resistant grasses.

Range work for me is to work on 2 things only: 1) dialing in distances for scoring clubs 7i and down through wedges; 2) hitting full shots with longer clubs for contact reasons only. Working on #1 means you have to have a range finder. My go-to range has greens with flags that can be scoped to return accurate numbers. The closest flag is usually 60-70 yards from wherever I'm hitting. They also have greens with flags at around 100, 140, 170 and one out there around 200 or so. I've gotten a lot of practice dialing in those scoring iron yardages at this facility. Working on #2 item means I'm focusing on solid contact and direction with the longer clubs and that's about it. Line up shots between greens and try to put them there. What I see so many other players doing is smashing through a large bucket of balls with a driver and nothing else. For me, it's put the ball in play off the team to set up the hole. It's not like I drive it far anymore, but putting it in play off the tee is something I fortunately don't have to work on a bunch.

My weeknight league starts next Thursday, April 4. The weather is looking optimistic a full week away. 42 degrees (high temp) and no rain so far. 27 is the predicted overnight low. That means we'll tee off at 40 degrees drop to lower 30s by the time we complete the round. How to dress? I wear long, thermal underwear, a pair of pants then my rain pants over the lower half. Up top, an Underarmour cold gear mock shirt, layer on a golf shirt (no idea WHY?!!!) then a cold weather quarter zip top over that zipped up to my chin. Layer on my rain suit top that is impervious to winds and I should be ok. I have a nice Adidas stocking hat that I'll pull down as low as it'll go. Also will wear my winter golf gloves, (plural), two pairs of socks and the warmest pair of golf shoes I own. Like any of them are warm. Saddest part is we'll play all of April and most of may in weather I don't consider 'golf weather' at all. When I watch TV golf, it's warm, the fans have on shorts and shirts, look warm and are shielding their eyes from the sun. No such issues with sunshine or warm, dry weather in NE Ohio until July ... if we're lucky.

Awesome, Patch. Thanks for sharing. At one of my local practice facilities, we have the 'old guy on the bench.' Here to find out he's been teaching the area for more than 50 years. Has quite a resume of youngsters who have gone on to play collegiate golf and maybe a professional or two. I sat next to him on his bench one time while he was reviewing a HS aged girl hit balls. Every once in awhile he'd say 'good swing,' or 'ball position,' or something to the girl. Took notice of those hands. Meat hooks, more like it. I though of Arnie after getting a good look at them. Big, fat fingers on very wide hands. Leathery texture. Every practice facility needs to have an older guy on the bench.

I'm definitely not cheap when it comes to my golf game. I am kind of a cheap-a$$ when it comes to how much I'll pay to play. Just off a recent trip to St Augustine, FL with the wife. We played two very nice courses there. Total cost for both of our green fees at each place less than $80. I played Slammer and Squire at the World Golf HOF for $80. Another place I like to play is the greater Biloxi, MS area. The 3 top courses, (minus Fallen Oak) are Grand Bear, (Nicklaus design) Bridges, (Arnold Palmer design) and Shell Landing, a Davis Love III designed course. Last time there I paid $40 for the Nicklaus course, $50 for Arnold's course and $45 for Shell Landing. Anyone whose played these courses would rate them at least an 8 out of 10. And for that kind of money? Honestly, I don't need to take that next step to the Bay Hills and the TPC Sawgrasses of the world. Would definitely love to play both, but the difference between $50 for a really nice course to $400 for a legendary course doesn't add up for me. Depending on where you live, some locations have a surplus of courses and not enough players to fill them. Supply / demand means golf is an incredible value provided you look and shop a bit. In NE Ohio, we have a ton of golf courses. Lots of nice ones, too. Since I don't always have to play at 7:30 am on Saturday, I can book really nice courses on a Saturday or Sunday around 11:00 am for $30. The nicest courses might cost $40-50. In addition, web-based golf sites like Group Golfer and Golfnow provide insane rates if your schedule flexible. I'll play a really nice course Sunday afternoon with my wife for $25 each and take my lumps. Just booked a course near Columbus, OH via Group Golfer that hosted a recent D3 college national championship ... for $25!!! I spend the majority of my cash on golf equipment, clothes and shoes. Just like to make sure green fees don't break the bank.

I have both types, soft-spike and spikeless shoes. The spikeless shoes work great for me when I'm playing on sand-based bermuda grass courses. They are lightweight and very comfortable. I have 2 pairs of the True Links shoes. Love them. However, I like up in NE Ohio where all our courses are dirt-based, soft and for the most part we play on bent grass fairways and greens. All of the courses are damp during morning hours meaning the TrueLinks spikeless shoes don't work. Also, it rains a LOT in NE Ohio making courses mushy at best to downright wet with casual water an on occasion a total quagmire. Spiked shoes are the ONLY choice most of the time. That said, I've purchased a few pairs of the Adidas spiked shoes with the BOA lacing. Great fit, still fairly lightweight and adjustable until the shoe fit is perfect. My feet don't bake in them on hot days anymore than wearing the spikeless True Links shoes. Conditions dictate what kind of shoe will keep your feet on the ground and steady.

If your golf Expo is similar to what we visited recently in Cleveland, Vokey SM5 wedges could be had for $99. Brand new, still wrapped in plastic. As others mentioned, if you don't like the price you see, make an offer. They might just take it because anything they sell doesn't have to be transported (cost involved) back to wherever it came from. We got incredibly good deals in Cleveland. Took a foursome with me. Only deal was anything you buy has to fit in the trunk of my BMW or you're walking home with it. We bought clothes, shoes, clubs, one bag, gloves, hats, balls, etc. Bunch of smaller stuff but all was priced better than any of the online shops. Again, they brought the stuff there to sell, not take back home. You'll find a wedge! dave

I use the Par Aide regularly to wash the BOGIES off my golf ball!

Couple things on sunscreen: 1. Don't use the spray on kind like Coppertone 'Sport' after you've dressed for golf and apply it at the course just before teeing off. You'll ruin those nice Adidas and Nike golf shirts. I had a couple that were completely ruined by whatever chemicals are present in the product. 2. Our local news (Cleveland) did a clinical study of all the top brands available over the counter at any retailer. Some claimed to be spf 50 or 70 or whatever. The brand that clearly delivered on what its label indicated was Wal-Mart Equate brand spf 30 and 50 lotions. Both were spot-on with protection claims and substantiated by testing labs. The report also concluded that lotions were more effective than spray on products. I slather on the Wal-Mart Equate brand, spf #50 before playing. I can burn right through spf 30 over an 18-hole round so the 50 actually does provide better protection.